Oxx says Camelot may go for Leger

RACING: SEA THE Stars didn’t get the opportunity to win the English Triple Crown in 2009 but his trainer John Oxx’s forecast…

RACING:SEA THE Stars didn't get the opportunity to win the English Triple Crown in 2009 but his trainer John Oxx's forecast at the time that the classic hat-trick would be completed sooner rather than later could yet come through with Camelot.

As the Coolmore team weigh up the pros and cons of allowing Camelot go to Doncaster for the St Leger, Oxx yesterday described the September classic as a perfectly viable option for the superstar colt. “Sea The Stars was never going to go for the Leger. His owners were against it and being by Cape Cross, I didn’t think it was something he should have been asked to do. But I did say, quite prophetically I think, clapping myself on the back here, that a Triple Crown would probably happen soon, and that it would probably be a Ballydoyle horse that would do it,” the Curragh trainer said.

“It just happens that some of the most commercially successful sires right now, especially Galileo and Montjeu, can throw stayers so the chances of a Triple Crown happening are better than they used to be.

“The Leger is pretty much meaningless still in terms of commercial value but winning it would make no difference to a horse like Camelot who has already won the Guineas and the Derby. And being by Montjeu I’d say he would stay the trip okay. The owners are businessmen, but they are sportsmen too, and I’m sure they would love to be able to say they own a Triple Crown winner,” Oxx added.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column